McEvoy's Handbook of Photovoltaics, Third Edition: Fundamentals and Applications

Description

Practical Handbook of Photovoltaics, Third Edition, is a 'benchmark' publication for those involved in the design, manufacture and use of these devices. This fully revised handbook includes brand new sections on smart grids, net metering and the modeling of photovoltaic systems, as well as fully revised content on developments in photovoltaic applications, the economics of PV manufacturing and updated chapters on solar cell function, raw materials, photovoltaic standards, calibration and testing, all with new examples and case studies. The editor has assembled internationally-respected contributors from industry and academia around the world to make this a truly global reference. It is essential reading for electrical engineers, designers of systems, installers, architects, policymakers and physicists working with photovoltaics. Presents a cast of international experts from industry and academia to ensure the highest quality information from multiple stakeholder perspectivesCovers all things photovoltaics, from the principles of solar cell function and their raw materials, to the installation and design of full photovoltaic systemsIncludes case studies, practical examples, and reports on the latest advances and worldwide applications Content: Front Cover McEvoy's Handbook of Photovoltaics Copyright Page Dedication Contents List of Contributors Biography Preface to the Third Edition Preface to the Second Edition Preface to the First Edition I-1 Solar Cells I-1-A Principles of Solar Cell Operation 1 Introduction 2 Electrical Characteristics 2.1 The ideal solar cell 2.2 Solar cell characteristics in practice 2.3 The quantum efficiency and spectral response 3 Optical Properties 3.1 The antireflection coating 3.2 Light trapping 4 Typical Solar Cell Structures 4.1 The p-n junction solar cell 4.1.1 The p-n junction 4.1.2 Uniform emitter and base4.1.3 Diffused emitter 4.2 Heterojunction cells 4.3 The p-i-n structure 4.4 Series resistance References I-1-B Semiconductor Materials and Modeling 1 Introduction 2 Semiconductor Band Structure 3 Carrier Statistics in Semiconductors 4 The Transport Equations 5 Carrier Mobility 6 Carrier Generation by Optical Absorption 6.1 Band-to-band transitions 6.2 Free-carrier absorption 7 Recombination 7.1 Bulk recombination processes 7.2 Surface recombination 7.3 Minority-carrier lifetime 8 Radiation Damage 9 Heavy Doping Effects 10 Properties of Hydrogenated Amorphous SiliconAcknowledgments References Further Reading I-1-C Ideal Efficiencies 1 Introduction 2 Thermodynamic Efficiencies 3 Efficiencies in Terms of Energies 4 Efficiencies Using the Shockley Solar Cell Equation 5 General Comments on Efficiencies References I-2 Crystalline Silicon Solar Cells I-2-A Crystalline Silicon: Manufacture and Properties 1 Introduction 2 Characteristics of Silicon Wafers for Use in Photovoltaic Manufacturing 2.1 Geometrical specifications 2.2 Physical specifications 2.3 Physical specifications 3 Feedstock Silicon 4 Crystal Preparation Methods4.1 Czochrahki silicon 4.2 Multicrystalline silicon 4.2.1 Charge preparation 4.2.2 Crucibles 4.3 Electromagnetic continuous casting 4.4 Float-zone silicon 4.5 Nonwafer technologies 5 Shaping and Wafering 5.1 Shaping 5.2 Wafering References I-2-B High-Efficiency Silicon Solar Cell Concepts 1 Introduction 2 High-Efficiency Laboratory Cells 2.1 Silicon space cell development 2.2 High-efficiency terrestrial cells 2.3 Rear passivated cells 2.4 PERC design features 2.5 Heterojunction cells 3 Commercial Al-BSF Screen-Printed Cells 3.1 Structure 3.2 Typical Al-BSF cell performance3.3 Improved screen-printing technology 3.3.1 Improved pastes 3.3.2 Selective emitter and multiple printing 3.3.3 Hot-melt and stencil printing 3.3.4 Plated seed layers 3.4 Ag supply limitations 4 Commercial Laser-Processed Cells 4.1 Buried-contact cells 4.2 Semiconductor finger solar cell 4.3 Laser-doped, selective-emitter solar cells 5 Commercial Heterojunction Cells 6 Commercial Rear-Contacted Cells 6.1 Rear-junction IBC solar cells 6.2 Emitter wrap-through cells 6.3 Metal wrap-through cells 7 Bifacial Cells